Τετάρτη, 29 Ιουλίου 2015

ELTHARIA – Innocent review

ELTHARIA
from France were formed back in 2001 and they released their debut album
entitled “Legend of a Forgotten World” in 2004. After that and for a period of
10 years the band hasn’t released anything. In November 2014 they released their
sophomore album under the title “Innocent” and I am happy to present it here to
you.

THE COVER: It
is a simple one although it looks like an oil painting (if I am not wrong). It
shows a bone with some blood on it and the band’s name above it. The bone also
looks like the letter I of the word innocent which is actually the title of the
album. So many bad things have been done in the name of innocence or so is the
way that I interpret the painting…

MUSICAL STYLE: The
band describes its sound as progressive power metal and who I am to argue with
them? No, seriously now, I think that ELTHARIA describe their sound perfectly
and actually they do manage to combine their power metal influences that come
from Europe with the progressive metal elements that are mostly U.S. oriented.
The good thing with these guys though is that they don’t copy, but they give
their own aspect to their influences.

COMPOSITIONS: The
11 songs that the new album includes can bring closer both the fans of European
power metal and those of the progressive one. The band definitely carries
influences from bands like HELLOWEEN (just listen to the song “Third World War”
which as it starts strongly reminds me of the metal hymn “Eagle Fly Free”),
STRATOVARIUS, SYMPHONY X, CONCEPTION and KAMELOT. Also the band shows its hard
rock talent in the song entitled “Faster than the Reaper” which kicks ass.

CONCLUSION:
ELTHARIA managed to create an album that has quality and I can easily recommend
it to fans of power/progressive metal. So, if you are into it then you will
find here another band to include amongst your favorites…